Tulfos' counsel seeks reinvestigation of complaint

MANILA, Philippines – The legal counsel for the Tulfo brothers on Monday filed an omnibus motion at the Quezon City Prosecutors Office seeking a stop to the issuance of warrant of arrest and the subsequent reinvestigation of criminal case of grave threat against them by celebrity couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto.

The case stemmed from grave threat charges filed by the Santiagos against Erwin, Raffy and Ben Tulfo for threatening the celebrity couple on national television a day after their eldest brother Ramon figured in an airport brawl with the couple in May.

The lawyer for the accused, Atty. Nelson Borja, said his client have not received any subpoena needed for the submission of counter-affidavits during the preliminary investigation.

Earlier, Assistant City Prosecutor Rowena Balagtas issued as resolution saying "the respondents' (Tulfo brothers) demeanor, tone and facial expression indicated that the threats were made with deliberate purpose of creating in the minds of the persons to whom [they were] addressed the belief that the threats would be carried into effect."

"The threats uttered by the respondents alluded to the infliction of physical harm upon the complainants (Santiago and Barreto).…The threats were consummated as soon as complainant spouse heard the statements of the respondents on TV on May 7, 2012."

Balagtas, however, dismissed the slander complaint against the Tulfos for lack of merit.

According to Atty. Freidrick Lu, the legal counsel of Ben Tulfo, his client is not guilty of grave threat because what he just did was challenge Santiago to a fist fight.

"No actual threat. Sinabi lang niya na fist fight," Lu said.

Ben Tulfo's counsel is also filing an omnibus motion asking the prosecutors office to reinvestigate the case.

"He (Ben) was surprised. If indeed they sent us subpoenas, then show us proof," Lu said.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Chief Prosecutor Donald Lee said that if the Tulfo brothers are questioning the resolution, the only remedy for them is to file a motion for reinvestigation.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

‘The Buzz’ poll favors Mon Tulfo over Raymart-Claudine camp

A text poll conducted Sunday by the ABS-CBN talk show “The Buzz” revealed at the end of separate lengthy interviews with both Ramon Tulfo and Raymart Santiago that an overwhelming majority of viewers favored the veteran journalist over the showbiz couple.

The poll results said 81.36 percent of the undisclosed number of texters believed Tulfo’s version of the so-called “Thrilla at NAIA”, the May 6 melee where he was mugged by the group led by the actor and his wife, actress Claudine Barretto.

Only 18.64 percent voted for the Santiagos.

One week after the incident at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Tulfo and Santiago remained at loggerheads over who really started the brawl, which was caught on camera by an eyewitness who quickly posted the video on youTube.

The incident was an offshoot of Barretto issuing a verbal complaint to the Cebu Pacific ground crew for offloading her party’s luggage.

“Siya (Tulfo) po ang nauna. Never ko inextend ang kamay ko,” Santiago insisted to “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda in his recollection of his initial encounter with Tulfo, who had photographed Barretto’s outburst with his cellphone camera.

Santiago stuck to his claim that he and his party only attacked Tulfo after the latter kicked his wife. Again, Tulfo denied the charge.

“Wala akong dahilan para i-provoke sila,” he said. “Hindi ko sila kilala. Hindi ko sila kalaban.”

Santiago appealed to other witnesses who might have also videotaped the incident to produce the video. The CCTV cameras at the terminal were not working.

Santiago claimed that the video that had gone viral only caught the second half of the incident, when the Santiago couple and their companions ganged up on Tulfo.

A candid Tulfo confessed that he thought about getting his gun to defend himself against the Santiagos’ group.

“Ang instinct ko was to run towards my gun,” he said.

Tulfo, who has a license to carry a firearm, was thankful that he had not yet retrieved his gun from the security counter at NAIA 3 when the fracas happened.

He said his martial arts expertise was rendered useless because he was totally outnumbered.

“I stood my ground kaso napakarami nila,” he said. “What is important is I fought for my right and the rights of others.”

Santiago issued this parting shot: “Basta nasa tama ka naman, kakampi mo ang Diyos.”

The poll results, which showed that public sympathy was not on his side, were flashed immediately afterwards.

source: interaksyon.com

Itchyworms backtrack on eyewitness account of Tulfo-Santiago brawl

MANILA, Philippines—Amid conflicting versions of who started what in the recent airport encounter between journalist Mon Tulfo and the group of showbiz couple Raymart Santiago and Claudine Barretto that was posted on YouTube, members of the pop-rock band, Itchyworms, have now backtracked on their earlier eyewitness accounts of the incident as posted on Twitter.

Based on the earlier tweets, it can be gathered that the band arrived on May 6 at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Cagayan De Oro right around the same time the incident took place.

Based on the tweets, it was Itchyworms drummer Jazz Nicolas and bassist Kelvin Yu who witnessed most of what happened.

On Sunday, Nicolas tweeted: “i saw the fight live this morning at naia3. walang sinabi yung mayweather-cotto fight.”

The succeeding tweets, mostly by Yu, were more detailed and directly contradicted the Santiagos’ recollection of the incident in interviews they granted in its aftermath.

“Claudine, wag mo sabihin na inaway kayo ni Tulfo sa harap ng mga kids nyo. Eh yung pinagmumura mo yung mga taga Cebpac sa harap ng kids mo.”

“she was berating them. Rinig na rinig yung pagka palengkera na sigaw nya hanggang sa carousel baggage claim area.”

“ang sabi nila jazz ang nakita nilang naunang sumuntok yung kampo nila claudine. Lumabas na kasi ako right before ng away.”

Marou Pahati Sarne, a broadcaster at AM radio station DWIZ was able to take a screenshot of these tweets and later posted them on Twitter.

Another telling tweet attributed to one of the band members as reported by showbiz blogs read, “ang sabi nila jazz ang nakita nilang naunang sumuntok yung kampo nila claudine. Lumabas na kasi ako right before ng away.”

A later check on the Twitter accounts of Yu, Nicolas, Itchyworms and other two members, guitarist Chino Singson and lead singer Jugs Jugueta (a co-host on ABS-CBN’s daily noontime program “Showtime”), revealed that these detailed tweets can no longer be viewed and seem to have been deleted.

Instead, Yu and Nicolas are now singing a different tune, pointing the overall blame on Cebu Pacific and the absence of a CCTV video that would shed more light on the incident.

On Monday, May 7, Nicolas tweeted, “if your attention is still on claudine, raymart and mon tulfo, then you are all just star-struck idiots. the real problem is CEBUPACIFIC!” When one of his Twitter followers asked him who threw the first punch, his reply “Cebpac.”

For his part, Yu, who describes Tulfo as “Steven Seagal ng Pilipinas,” took a similar stand in answering inquiries by his own followers: “tanong nalang nila sa mga taga Cebpac ” and “always 2 sides to every story. Sometimes even 3. Hehe ”

source: interaksyon.com

Airport security failed to stop Tulfo-Santiago brawl -- police

MANILA, Philippines -- Airport security personnel were remiss in preventing the fight between broadcaster and columnist Ramon Tulfo and the camp of actor Raymart Santiago at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Sunday, a police official said.

Chief Supt. Tomas Rentoy III, director of the police Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies (SOSIA), told reporters that personnel of the Lanting Security Agency could have done more in stopping the brawl.

"Admittedly there were lapses because if not, then the incident would not have gotten out of hand," Rentoy said.

He said at the start, security personnel should have already restrained the two fighting groups and immediately brought them to the security office.

Rentoy said police are also investigating reports that some security personnel also took part in the brawl.

The fight between Tulfo and Santiago started when Tulfo took photos of Santiago's wife, actress Claudine Barretto, who was reportedly scolding a ground crew of Cebu Pacific over an offloaded luggage.

Rentoy said the security agency could face suspension of license if lapses were proven. PNP SOSIA is expected to come out with an official report by the end of the week.

source: interaksyon.com

Cebu Pacific staff say Claudine verbally abused them

MANILA - Two ground personnel of Cebu Pacific airline told airport authorities they were verbally abused by actress Claudine Barretto after she found out that her luggages were left behind in Caticlan airport.

Barretto, together with her husband Raymart Santiago and friends, arrived Sunday afternoon at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via a Cebu Pacific flight after a weekend in Boracay.

Barretto allegedly started cursing at Cebu Pacific ground staff Cid Charisse Bocboc and Kristina Anne Ilagan after she found out that their luggages had been left behind.

Aside from not having their luggages, Barretto also got mad because their flight was delayed, Bocboc told airport authorities.

Bocboc said she asked Barretto for the baggage claim stub and description of their luggages for proper tracing, but Barretto reportedly continued her tongue-lashing of the ground crew in front of other arriving passengers.

Iagan, on the other hand, told authorities she explained to Barretto that due to weight limitations and for safety reason, their luggages had to be flown to Kalibo Airport, Aklan and that these would soon be brought to Manila.

Despite their explanations, Ilagan and Bocboc, in their handwritten statements to airport authorities, said Barretto continued to verbally abuse them.

Tulfo tries to record incident

Veteran journalist Ramon Tulfo, who had also arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 from Davao, witnessed the alleged tongue-lashing of Barretto and instinctively began to document the incident with his mobile phone.

This irked the group of Santiago and demanded to Tulfo that he surrender his cellphone.

Tulfo's refusal earned the ire of Barretto and she then allegedly shouted at Tulfo. Santiago's group then mauled Tulfo.

As of posting, Tulfo was still confined at St. Luke's hospital. He sustained injuries in his left and right eye. His lips were also swollen from the mauling.

Airport investigators learned that even with the presence of airport security who tried to pacify both parties, Santiago's group was still able to attack and strangle Tulfo.

Barretto denies verbal abuse

In an interview with radio dzMM on Sunday afternoon, Barretto said it is not true that she cursed at the airport staff.

She said she was merely complaining because their bags were left in Caticlan Airport and she needed the medicines of her son which were in the luggages.

“Pagbaba ho namin ng airport, naghintay po kami ng matagal sa carousel ng luggage. Walang dumating na luggage namin so lumapit kami sa ground stewardess tapos nalaman namin na naiwan pala 'yung luggage at ipapadala na lang daw,” she explained.

Barretto said Tulfo also kicked her twice when she confronted him about why he punched her husband.

“Lumapit ako sabi ko ‘Anong problema mo? Bakit ka nanununtok?’ Tapos bigla na lang humarap siya sa akin, tinadyakan niya ako ng dalawang beses sa hita tapos tinulak ako sa may counter ng sobrang lakas,” she said.

Barretto appealed to airport authorities to release the CCTV recording of the incident because only the footage can say who really started the brawl.

Cebu Pacific apologizes

Cebu Pacific vice-president for marketing Candice Iyog apologized to the passengers whose luggages were delayed but assured them that these will be delivered to their homes.

Iyog admitted that Barretto's luggages were deliberately transferred to Kalibo airport due to weight limitations of their aircraft from Caticlan. She said the safety of their passengers is their utmost concern.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Raymart Santiago, Mon Tulfo in fist fight

MANILA, Philippines – Actor Raymart Santiago and journalist Mon Tulfo got into a fist fight Sunday afternoon at the arrival area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

In an interview with dzMM, Tulfo said he just arrived from Davao onboard a Cebu Pacific flight when he saw a familiar face at the arrival area reprimanding a flight attendant.

“Nasa arrival area na ako, palabas na ako ng arrival area tapos may napansin akong magandang babae. Namumukhaan ko, maganda siya eh. Hindi ko naman siya nakilala. Pinagalitan ang ground stewardess ng Cebu Pacific,” he said.

Tulfo said he later on recognized that it was Santiago’s wife, actress Claudine Barretto, who was scolding the airport staff.

“Nag-sympathize ako sa kanya dahil sabi ko, tingnan mo nga naman itong Cebu Pacific bakit naman ganooon. Marami na kasing insidente itong Cebu Pacific naging inefficient sa cargo ng mga pasahero. Kaya sabi ko buti nga,” he said.

Tulfo said he then decided to take a photo of Barretto through his camera when he heard that Barretto was already cursing the stewardess.

“Noong nakita ko na minumura na niya ang pobreng babae na mangiyak-ngiyak, ipatatanggal daw niya sa trabaho, kinunan ko ng litrato ng cellphone. Gusto ko sanang sabihin na ‘Cool ka lang, iyan namang babae, wala namang kasalanang personal sa iyo bakit mo naman minumura,’” he said.

Tulfo, however, said he was caught off guard after Santiago approached him and was forcefully trying to grab his cellphone.

“Noong nilagay ko ang cellphone ko sa vest ko... nakita nung si Raymart Santiago. Pilit niyang kinukuha ang cellphone ko. Sabi niya, ‘Bakit ka kumukuha?’ Magpapakilala sana ako kaya lang nung pilit na niyang kinukuha ang cellphone ko, tinulak ko siya sabi ko wala kang karapatan na kunin ang cellphone ko. Doon nag-umpisa ang kaguluhan,” he said.

Tulfo said several people approached him and a punch landed on his face that’s why he decided to fight back.

“Habang sinasangga ko ang mga suntok nila dahil marami sila, minumura pa ako. Ako na ang binalingan ni Claudine Barretto ng galit niya. Minumura mura na ako. Tinamaan ako eh. Noong tinamaan ako sa may mata, nagdilim na ang paningin ko,” he said.

Tulfo said it took a while before airport authorities responded to stop the brawl.

Airport authorities are currently conducting an investigation over the incident.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Mon Tulfo, Raymart Santiago exchange blows at NAIA 3

MANILA -- Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Ramon Tulfo and actor Raymart Santiago exchanged blows at the NAIA 3 Sunday.

Tulfo said he was simply trying to pacify Claudine Barretto, Santiago's wife, who was allegedly verbally abusing a ground crew when Santiago turned to him.

In a television interview, Tulfo had bruises on his face.

source: interaksyon.com